What’s a Craft Sabbath?nCraft Sabbath is a local group of crafters who convene on the first Sunday of the month to sell their wares. The idea came to us after we put on a holiday boutique, and the response was good. We’d been checking out the book Handmade Nation which talks about all the craft groups around the county; it inspired us to start our own. This is the first Craft Sabbath here, but people have been doing it throughout the state for some time. The ladies from the Beehive Bazaar do it twice a year down in Utah County.

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Guess these aren’t your grandma’s crafts.nKali Mellus of ByKali creates belt buckles and necklaces made from old industrial staples and nails as well as organic pieces with leaves collected in the local canyons. Sonya Evans of Full Spectrum and Bean Child: Her clients love her unique take on baby onesies, tea towels and progressive designs on women’s clothing. Tim Thompson of True Gage: Everyone loves a good pair of birthstone plugs but it’s even better when they cost less than $30. The feather hair clips of Meg Griggs (The Lewd Quill) range in size from small petite ones with a tiny feather or button to giant dramatic ones with vintage brooches and ostrich plumes. Mary McClaugherty is the group’s “Jane of all trades” who surprises even herself with the necklaces, scarves, monster dolls and coasters she comes up with.

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You work for SLUG magazine by day and are a craftsperson by night. Would you call yourself a bohemian?nActually, because of SLUG and the people I have met through the magazine, I am able to create local events and groups such as this. My boss and friend Angela Brown encourages me to leave my own legacy in this city! Without her unconditional support, none of it would be possible.

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And after reading the Wikipedia definition of the Bohemian lifestyle (“Bohemians were associated with unorthodox or antiestablishment political or social viewpoints, which were often expressed through non-marital sexual relations, frugality and/or voluntary poverty”), I will just stick to calling myself a dedicated DIY crafter!

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Isn’t the Sabbath supposed to be a day of worship or rest?nFor us nonchurch-goers, the Sabbath is a day to get out and see friends. What better way to worship the craft gods and give locals an opportunity to get out, socialize, hear local music, drink local coffee and purchase local goods?